Preview — Broken Juliet
by Leisa Rayven

Broken Juliet

For years, Cassie Taylor tried to forget about Ethan Holt. He was the one great love of her life, and when he failed to return her love, a part of her died forever. Or so she thought. Now she and Ethan are sharing a Broadway stage, and he’s determined to win her back. Claiming to be a changed man, he’s finally able toHow do you fix a love that’s been broken beyond repair?

For years, Cassie Taylor tried to forget about Ethan Holt. He was the one great love of her life, and when he failed to return her love, a part of her died forever. Or so she thought. Now she and Ethan are sharing a Broadway stage, and he’s determined to win her back. Claiming to be a changed man, he’s finally able to say all the things she needed to hear years ago, but can she believe him? What makes this time different from all his other broken promises?

Ethan knows he can’t change their tumultuous past, but if he’s going to have any chance of being with the woman he loves, he’ll need to convince Cassie that her future belongs with him.

Don’t miss this stunning conclusion to the unforgettable love story that captivated over two million fans online....more

Community Reviews

SQUEE!!!! This was the perfect conclusion to the story that began in Bad Romeo, which is one of my top favorites. I totally devoured this book in one sitting and LOVE LOVE LOVED it!!! Just pure awesome!

If you're a fan of intensely passionate love stories -- I'm talking the kind of love that doesn't let go even after years apart and the deepest hurt, where you just know in your heart that these two people are meant for each other, then you have to read this series!! Plus Ethan Holt is this delic

SQUEE!!!! This was the perfect conclusion to the story that began in Bad Romeo, which is one of my top favorites. I totally devoured this book in one sitting and LOVE LOVE LOVED it!!! Just pure awesome!

If you're a fan of intensely passionate love stories -- I'm talking the kind of love that doesn't let go even after years apart and the deepest hurt, where you just know in your heart that these two people are meant for each other, then you have to read this series!! Plus Ethan Holt is this deliciously tormented, moody, and insanely hot bad boy whose love for Cassie Taylor is guaranteed to melt your heart.

"Do you feel this?" he whispers. "This is what makes us keep coming back, despite everything we've gone through. This is why I had to change, and why, despite how much I hurt you, you can't walk away. The way we sink into each other. The way I can't tell my heartbeat from yours... It's about this."

I don't want to give away too much of the story but basically this is a second chance romance. We saw the beginning of Ethan and Cassie's story in Bad Romeo -- where they met in drama school and had this intense connection that pulled them together. After a tumultuous on-and-off (but always in love) relationship, he finally broke her heart for the last time and they were separated for years. When they are cast together as romantic leads in a major production of Romeo and Juliet, they're faced once again with their undeniable chemistry and Ethan is now determined to win back Cassie's heart and prove to her beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's sorry, that he's changed, and that he has never stopped loving her.

"I meant every word, and if you let me in, I’ll prove it to you. Show you. Love you. Please…"

He brushes his lips against my ear, and it makes me tremble.He wraps his fingers around mine and pulls them away from the door.

“You want to hold on to something?” he says. “Hold on to me.”

Gah. Ethan Holt. I love him so much! Honestly, he's very much the kind of hero I'm drawn too. What can I say, I love the tortured, tormented guys... especially when they're beyond in love with their girl. I think there's something about the struggle that they have to overcome in order to be with their loves that makes me feel for them even more than usual. It's like an extra measure of sacrifice and effort. My heart really broke for him. This guy was so convinced that the people he loved would eventually hurt him that he either shut them out or left them before they could do the damage, but just ended up hurting everyone more so as a result. I think the most painful thing of all was how though everything -- the mistakes in his past, all the hurt he caused her -- it was always so clear to me just how much he loved her.

“Fuck, Cassie, I know the right thing to do is leave you alone. But when I think about doing that, it…” He grips his chest. “It fucking hurts.”

He didn't want to be that way, and he never wanted to hurt her. He just didn't believe he could ever be the kind of guy she wanted or who deserved her even though she loved him exactly as he was.

What I really appreciated though was that the story took the time to show you what he was going through. Honestly, even though it was a mistake, I ended up understanding why he left that second time. His breaking point made sense to me. Gah, they were so deeply dysfunctional even though they were so madly in love. So, I got it. I definitely did.... And then I just wanted to hug him.

He pulls back leans his forehead on mine, eyes closed. “One more chance is all I need to prove how different we can be. Please. I know second chances are hard to come by and here I am asking for a third, but… fuck, I need you. And despite everything, you need me, too. Just say yes. Please.”

This story made my heart race!!!! I could just feel in every single scene how much these two people were meant for each other. They had this connection, this pull, this undeniable chemistry that drew them to each other over and over again. It just rolled off the page. I felt it. From the first page to the last.

My favorite stories are the ones about a love so strong that even the most painful of heartbreaks can't ever truly break it. And this was one of those. But I loved the way it was balanced out with little outbreaks of humor that would catch me off guard. Here I was reading this crazy madly-in-love, passionate forever-soulmate, epic romance and I'd be totally wrapped up in it with my heart pounding in my throat and then suddenly I would just laugh out right loud over a hilarious line. So perfect!

Just like with the first book, this one went back and forth between their past and present. It would fill in the missing pieces of their past while moving their present day story forward. I loved the way these blended together. As a huge fan of second chance romances, this is a storytelling method I'm quite fond of and this author pulled it off seamlessly.

If you're looking for a passionate love story with a bad boy hero who will both melt and break your heart and have you swooning like crazy over how much he loves the heroine, then this is the perfect series for you! It had everything I look for in a romance in the perfect measure. I highly recommend it!!

Every once in a while I crave an angsty, emotionally charged read. I knew that reconnecting with Cassie and Ethan, after the way things were left between the two, would definitely pull at my heartstrings. Without a doubt, this book delivered on all of those points.

Cassie and Ethan are all grown up now, but still being held back by their pasts. Neither one of them ever recovered fully from their devastating break-up. They haven't really moved on or moved past their high school romance.

When EthanEvery once in a while I crave an angsty, emotionally charged read. I knew that reconnecting with Cassie and Ethan, after the way things were left between the two, would definitely pull at my heartstrings. Without a doubt, this book delivered on all of those points.

Cassie and Ethan are all grown up now, but still being held back by their pasts. Neither one of them ever recovered fully from their devastating break-up. They haven't really moved on or moved past their high school romance.

When Ethan tries to make amends with Cassie, begging for another chance and confessing his undying love, the two set out to repair the damage. The story is told in both past and present, revealing exactly where these two went so wrong, then subsequently watching them try to fix it years later. If you're looking for teenage melodrama and angst, look no farther.

While I was in the mood for an emotional, drama-filled read, I'd be lying if I said that the same things I love about this story didn't drive me crazy at times. This story definitely has an overly dramatic, "teenage" feel to it. You know, that whole "the world is going to end" type of melodrama? This book had it in spades. Sometimes I just wanted to slap Ethan and tell him to get over himself with his self-loathing act!

Despite my eye rolling, I still found myself rooting for these two. A part of me wanted to tell Cassie that she must be stupid to keep taking this guy back. Another part of me delighted at the idea of them finally reuniting. What can I say? I'm a romantic at heart!

In the end, I really enjoyed this angsty, melodramatic love story. I'm a sucker for "first loves" and this book did not disappoint. It was infuriating, but it was also sweet. It was nice to get the closure for this couple that I didn't get at the end of the last book....more

This series has been a huge win for me… HUGE! I know it’s one that has mixed reviews and ratings. I have friends that don’t love it and other friends that adore it and I’m so happy I fell in the later category. Ethan Holt… I thought he was amazing in Bad Romeo, but I really hadn’t seen anything yet. Full of love, second chances, intensity, angst and passion… It was perfection for this reader!

One reason I love this series so much is that above all the angst and stress, it is full of t5 stars!!!

This series has been a huge win for me… HUGE! I know it’s one that has mixed reviews and ratings. I have friends that don’t love it and other friends that adore it and I’m so happy I fell in the later category. Ethan Holt… I thought he was amazing in Bad Romeo, but I really hadn’t seen anything yet. Full of love, second chances, intensity, angst and passion… It was perfection for this reader!

One reason I love this series so much is that above all the angst and stress, it is full of true love and HUMOR. I love to laugh and both of these books had me cracking up.

“I did tell you to go fuck yourself”“Yeah, but you didn’t mean it.”“Yeah, I did.”He frown. “Really? Wow. I totally misread that moment.”

I also found it interesting that the roles were somewhat reversed between the characters. If you look at past Cassie, that is where Ethan is today. And Ethan from the past is similar to Cassie from the present. I thought it was a really cool twist. This story is paced perfectly and the transitions between present and past worked. One of my favorite things in this story were Ethan’s journal entries… sigh.

If you’re looking for a fantastic second chance romance with a feisty heroine, a bad boy hero who has a great heart, and a story full of humor, steam and love READ THESE BOOKS! Just an FYI, I listened to the audio versions and the narrator was great!

“This is precious. This is love. This is something I’ll never take for granted, because I know how it feels to be without it.”

In this second book, Ethan opened up and face the consequences of his previous actions. He’s decided to do whatever it takes, as long as Cassie forgives him and takes him back.Cassie has her heart broken, not one, but twice by Ethan. Now he’s asking for one final chance and he’s relentless in having it. Will Cassie finally put her fears aside and forgive him?

Let me be very honest: The ONLY reason I’m giving this book four stars it’s because of the end. I simply loved the last 30/4 Broken Stars.

In this second book, Ethan opened up and face the consequences of his previous actions. He’s decided to do whatever it takes, as long as Cassie forgives him and takes him back.Cassie has her heart broken, not one, but twice by Ethan. Now he’s asking for one final chance and he’s relentless in having it. Will Cassie finally put her fears aside and forgive him?

Let me be very honest: The ONLY reason I’m giving this book four stars it’s because of the end. I simply loved the last 30/25% of this book, and after everything I believe the end was really sweet and adequate to their story. But if it wasn’t for it, I would be torn between 2 or three stars. Why? MORE OF THE SAME.More than half of this book is pretty much Ethan pushing away in the past and Cassie trying to pull… and Cassie pushing away in the present, while Ethan tries to pull. A lot of the book was set in the past and the problem is that the time frames didn’t flow easily. At some moments I had to stop and remember if I was in the past or in the present, because even in the present there were freaking scenes from the past. Confusing? Imagine while reading it! However, it was very well written and if you liked the first one and are invested in their story, you can’t miss this one.

Rating: 4 Stars. Characters Development: I liked Ethan in this one, at least, the Ethan in the present. He was finally grew some balls and man-up. Cassie, well… I understand her reaction, after all, she went through the same story twice, but it came to a point where she was just being annoying. I ended up making my peace with her. I’m really anxious for Elissa’s story, she was a nice supportive character. Steam: Some heated scenes. Sensible Subjects: (view spoiler)[ No. (hide spoiler)]Love Triangle: (view spoiler)[ No. (hide spoiler)]Cheating: (view spoiler)[ No. (hide spoiler)]HEA: (view spoiler)[ Yes. (hide spoiler)]["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>...more

"Despite all the things I would have changed about our journey, I’d never want a different destination. It’s always been you."

My love for this book cannot be described in words! Broken Juliet is an excellent continuation of Bad Romeo and a perfect conclusion for Ethan and Cassie's love story.

After their devastating relationship mistakes in the past, Cassie makes the greatest decision of a lifetime-- to either accept Ethan back or deny their chance of forever.

I just can't get enough of this bo"Despite all the things I would have changed about our journey, I’d never want a different destination. It’s always been you."

My love for this book cannot be described in words! Broken Juliet is an excellent continuation of Bad Romeo and a perfect conclusion for Ethan and Cassie's love story.

After their devastating relationship mistakes in the past, Cassie makes the greatest decision of a lifetime-- to either accept Ethan back or deny their chance of forever.

I just can't get enough of this book! It's perfect and it's one unforgettable, breathtaking story. The kind where you just can't help but laugh, cry, swoon, and fall in love. This book transformed me into such a complete emotional mess!

Leisa Rayven's writing style is utterly beautiful and intricate. The way she sent her readers back in the characters' past through flashback perfectly worked well with me. I also love the way she fleshed out Ethan and Cassie's character, making them more likable. And my oh my, the chemistry Ethan and Cassie shared in this book was truly undeniable!

This book also made me understand Cassie's heartaches and Ethan's inner turmoil which were the reasons why the story become even more beautiful. In this book, forgiveness and second chances were greatly defined-- things that made their push-and-pull relationship crucial.

I found myself really enjoying this book as a whole, because why not? Broken Juliet is not only an emotionally-driven love story. It's also mixed with humor and sexiness that made it an absolute page-turner!

This series is now one of my favorite NAs. It totally deserves all the ratings it gets. I can't wait to read more of this author's books in the future!

The first 30% of this book was frustrating as hell. Back and forth. I felt like I was stuck in the spin cycle. Everything started to feel little redundant, it was like reading the same thing over and over.

But, it did get better. The past and present are blended together in a way to fully tell their story, and for the most part it's done perfectly. Broken Juliet picks up where Bad Romeo left off. Ethan trying to convince Cassie he's3.75-4 Stars

Ethan. Cassie. You two really tested my patience.

The first 30% of this book was frustrating as hell. Back and forth. I felt like I was stuck in the spin cycle. Everything started to feel little redundant, it was like reading the same thing over and over.

But, it did get better. The past and present are blended together in a way to fully tell their story, and for the most part it's done perfectly. Broken Juliet picks up where Bad Romeo left off. Ethan trying to convince Cassie he's changed, and for her to give him a 3rd chance. For the most part, these two switch roles. Cassie is now the one with trust issues, constantly pushing Ethan away, while he continues to pursue her.

He pulls back leans his forehead on mine, eyes closed. “One more chance is all I need to prove how different we can be. Please. I know second chances are hard to come by and here I am asking for a third, but… fuck, I need you. And despite everything, you need me, too. Just say yes. Please.”

Ethan and Cassie's story is intense, passionate, and I've never doubted their feelings for one another. It was nice getting more insight into Ethan's motivations, I think I understand him much better. He really tries to prove himself, and honestly, I really enjoyed his character, while Cassie came across a bit whiny, and juvenile. Overall, I enjoyed this one. It's well-paced, the characters are realistic, yet flawed and I loved the theater atmosphere.

”This man represents so many things to me. He was my first true friend. My first love. First lover. The master of more pleasure than I knew existed, and the architect of more heartache than I thought I could endure.”

Bad Juliet starts off exactly where Bad Romeo left us and I was more than excited to jump in and see if Ethan Holt could win a third chance with Cassie Taylor.

”He’s saying everything I needed him to say years ago.”

”In the past, I thought I could be what you needed.3.75 ~ 4 Stars

”This man represents so many things to me. He was my first true friend. My first love. First lover. The master of more pleasure than I knew existed, and the architect of more heartache than I thought I could endure.”

Bad Juliet starts off exactly where Bad Romeo left us and I was more than excited to jump in and see if Ethan Holt could win a third chance with Cassie Taylor.

”He’s saying everything I needed him to say years ago.”

”In the past, I thought I could be what you needed. Now I know I can. Let me prove I can love you the way you deserve.”

This story stuck with the same formula as the first book the past and present switch but for some reason I got tired of it by the middle of this story and just wish I was fully in the present already. Still the writing was strong and Ethan insecurities (self-sabotage and abandonment issues) and actions in the past that broke Cassie’s heart. In the present Cassie isn’t so eager to try again and her walls must be brought down.

”He’s known the loss and defeat I’ve felt. He’s walked in my shoes. And I’ve walked in his.”

The author is indeed a talented writer who can bring the angst, humor and heat and gifted one lovable hero..

”I invented chemistry with you. Everything else is just pretend.”

Ethan and Cassie's story does wraps up with this book and a sweet conclusion.

“Despite all the things I would have changed about our journey, I’d never want a different destination. It’s always been you.”

Broken Juliet begins where Bad Romeo leaves off, which is pretty perfect because I can’t imagine not knowing every moment between Cassie and Ethan.

I actually loved Broken Juliet so much more than Bad Romeo and I loved it, too. Ethan has broke Cassie’s heart twice and is back again, wanting another chance. It seems the roles have reversed. Ethan is vulnerable now and willing to do anything to prove he is serious about Cassie. Now Cassie is harder, more suspicious and less trusting.

I love that wBroken Juliet begins where Bad Romeo leaves off, which is pretty perfect because I can’t imagine not knowing every moment between Cassie and Ethan.

I actually loved Broken Juliet so much more than Bad Romeo and I loved it, too. Ethan has broke Cassie’s heart twice and is back again, wanting another chance. It seems the roles have reversed. Ethan is vulnerable now and willing to do anything to prove he is serious about Cassie. Now Cassie is harder, more suspicious and less trusting.

I love that we got to see more of Ethan’s thoughts and understand him and past motives more. It was absolutely perfect to see the story come full circle and I love, love, love that I truly believe they are healed.

Many times we just get a HEA wrapped up in pretty bow and we don’t really know how it happened. That’s not the case with Ethan and Cassie. While at times my heart broke and I was angry with Cassie or Ethan, I love that we got to see everything. I love that we get to see them later as adults. To see that they have matured and grown is priceless.

I hate that I waited so long to read these books. The are fun, sexy and so damn addictive. I highly recommend them. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is the same for both Bad Romeo and Broken Juliet. She did a fantastic job!

"You can love something without being passionate about it. Conversely, you can be passionate about things you don't love. It's when the two converge that real magic happens."

Ethan Holt used to be a train wreck in drama school. An avalanche that emotionally destroyed Cassie and left her completely heartbroken. Now 3 years later, Ethan is back, claiming he is finally ready for a commitment. But even though connection like Cassie and Ethan have doesn't come along more than a once in a life time,

"You can love something without being passionate about it. Conversely, you can be passionate about things you don't love. It's when the two converge that real magic happens."

Ethan Holt used to be a train wreck in drama school. An avalanche that emotionally destroyed Cassie and left her completely heartbroken. Now 3 years later, Ethan is back, claiming he is finally ready for a commitment. But even though connection like Cassie and Ethan have doesn't come along more than a once in a life time, will Cassie be able to put her heart on the line for the third time?

Written in past/present alternating chapters, Mrs. Raven once again offers passionate character-driven story about couple with one of the strongest chemistry ever created on the pages. Sexual tension in this series is so thick that you can taste it. Emotions are so powerful that you can feel being touched and affected by them yourself. This is how memorable contemporary love story is being written.

"Hate. Such a strong emotion. So easy to call upon. Loud enough to shout down all the pain. It's easy to hate him, so I do. It distracts me from how much I love him."

But what is the most praiseworthy aspect of this novel? The way author crafted the main protagonists and gave them this touch of realistic people with their strengths and flaws. I loved Ethan's transition from scared boy with issues to real man Cassie deserved. It was made in very believable way, kudos to author for that. This new version of Ethan is so adorably lovable that you can't help but cheer for him no matter what stupid decision he had made in the past. And Cassie? Her POV makes you feel like she is the most open and honest character ever, baring her soul to all who are willing to read her story. Mrs. Rayven made it very easy for me to connect with Cassie and fully understand all her decisions and feelings.

Beside great character development and unforgettable romance, this book reproduces amazingly realistic atmosphere of drama school and gives readers detailed insight into all acting connected. And let me tell you, it's one of the most fascinating things I have ever read about and it definitely helps to make this series stand out from other contemporary romances.

If you haven't started this series yet, I cannot recommend it enough. First book (Bad Romeo) is already out since December 2014 and this sequel is being released next week so what are you waiting for?

It's no secret that I had been less than impressed with Bad Romeo, so I went into this book with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Broken Juliet starts off where Bad Romeo left off with Cassie on a cusp of deciding whether to give Ethan another chance or not. This was the third time that she was going to be giving Ethan, so I understood why she was hesitant. Although, it's quite clear that she was still very much in love with Ethan, she also doesn't trust him.

Like Bad Romeo, we get3.5 Broken stars!

It's no secret that I had been less than impressed with Bad Romeo, so I went into this book with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Broken Juliet starts off where Bad Romeo left off with Cassie on a cusp of deciding whether to give Ethan another chance or not. This was the third time that she was going to be giving Ethan, so I understood why she was hesitant. Although, it's quite clear that she was still very much in love with Ethan, she also doesn't trust him.

Like Bad Romeo, we get to revisit the past when Ethan and Cassie are both theater majors at the Grove in Westchester, New York. In Bad Romeo, we find out that Ethan left Cassie twice but we never got to find out why. In this book we did and it was just Ethan feeling he's not good enough for Cassie believing that he's too damage to be able to love her. They first time they broke up, Cassie was devastated but after a year, they started being sort of friends and started flirting until they gave in and hooked up with no promises or strings attached. That one hook up turned into two, three until they were fully hooking up in secret. Since things were never simple when it comes to their relationship, Cassie and Ethan, tried again during their senior year. They were truly happy but then old jealousies resurfaced and suddenly, Ethan pushed Cassie away for one last time.

So what did I like?

I really liked the present Ethan and Cassie. I see their growth. Ethan for one was different. I liked that Cassie didn't immediately jump into a reconciliation with Ethan. She made him work for it. Ethan, for his part, had been very patient. He never pushed Cassie to forgive him.

I also liked the transition between past and present this time around. In the previous book, the transition was a bit jarring. This time, it flowed smoothly. Plus, Liesa Rayven's writing really shined through. The dialogue was excellent and Cassie's growth as a character was evident in the way he handled Ethan and (view spoiler)[ and her parent's divorce, which broke my heart by the way. (hide spoiler)]

But the best part of the book for me was during what I refer to as Cassie and Ethan's "hook-up" period. That part was hot as it was entertaining. Ethan was actually less annoying and less emo and it made a huge difference to me as a reader because I found myself smiling and rooting for them. But of course, someone had to ruin it.

*sigh I'm looking at you Ethan.

Seriously, this dude was whacked. I get that he is "troubled" whatever that means but I never sympathized with him. His issues were, I felt, shallow. Sure, he felt unloved but his reaction and the way he handled his pain was just annoying and cowardly. His issues weren't totally discussed in the book either or maybe it was discussed but I never considered it as justification for the way he acted towards Cassie and other people. He was broody and moody and not in an attractive way at all.

Second, the diary thing. It appeared again but this time, it was Ethan's diary and not Cassie's. It's not bad but I just found it cheesy sometimes. I could have done away with it and I would still be okay with the story. But I guess it served to inform the readers about Ethan's feelings for Cassie.

Overall, I enjoyed this one despite some of the issues I had. I actually loved the ending and how everything got wrapped up together at the end. It wasn't tied up in a pretty bow sort of ending but it fits Cassie and Ethan.

Would I recommend this one? Definitely, yes. I felt that story wise, Broken Juliet offered a lot more than Bad Romeo. I am looking forward to Ethan's sister story which is going to the third book in the series.

Continuing where the first book left off, we get to see the end of Cassie and Ethan's relationship in the past and the continuation of it in the present. Ethan has sorted through all of his past issues and is hoping Cassie will confront her current ones.

I loved that we finally got to see the big reason behind the past breakup and it was easier to understand why Cassie has so many reservations about getting involved with Ethan again. He b 4.5 stars!

Note: This is the follow up book to Bad Romeo.

Continuing where the first book left off, we get to see the end of Cassie and Ethan's relationship in the past and the continuation of it in the present. Ethan has sorted through all of his past issues and is hoping Cassie will confront her current ones.

I loved that we finally got to see the big reason behind the past breakup and it was easier to understand why Cassie has so many reservations about getting involved with Ethan again. He basically crushed her heart twice and is coming back and asking for third times a charm. The only thing I would have liked more in this aspect of the book would be more information of her life after the breakup. It's pretty much awful breakup and then present, so her development into her current self would have been interesting. I don't mind more chapters! ;-)

Reading this book, between past and present Ethan was like reading two completely different characters. He regretted his past, and changed into a better man for Cassie. It was amazing to see his development from tortured soul into a good man. I loved how Ethan fought for Cassie, he stuck to his guns and was going to prove no matter what that he was going to stay this time. That he wanted to make Cassie happy and spend his life with her.

I will say this was so freaking angsty even I had to take a break and put this book down a few times. And I eat up angst like I'm the freakin cookie monster and angst is the best batch of chocolate chip. So pop your valium before cracking this one!!

At this point, I will be reading/buying anything this author produces in the future, her books are the perfect angsty reads for me.

I was right there with Cassie in taking my time to believe Ethan had changed. Their experiences in the past really shaped who she became. Some of it positive, some of it not. I liked Cassie even when she was not at her best. Ethan does eventually win me over and let me tell you the change in him is staggering. I was impressed by his patience and at that point he really needed it with Cassie: nothing that he didn't bring upon himself by having hurt her and nothing overtly cruel, thank goodness. TI was right there with Cassie in taking my time to believe Ethan had changed. Their experiences in the past really shaped who she became. Some of it positive, some of it not. I liked Cassie even when she was not at her best. Ethan does eventually win me over and let me tell you the change in him is staggering. I was impressed by his patience and at that point he really needed it with Cassie: nothing that he didn't bring upon himself by having hurt her and nothing overtly cruel, thank goodness. Though the back and forth in timeline was still not my favorite, it got easier to see the line jump because what was happening then and now was significantly different. Whereas in the first book, they were doing plays at both timelines. The angst continues to be high here though the source seems to have transferred to Cassie now instead of Ethan. After working through everything, they get their happy. I'm really glad I picked up this series, even if I struggled at first I pretty much devoured the second. I think the main point was that they both needed to be in a better place as individuals before being able to come together in love. Safety: No OW/OM/Sharing while together. One of the two is with others while apart. No rape or abuse. ...more

Bad Romeo was a 5 star read for me. I loved the dynamic of Ethan and Cassie and was happy to read a second book about this couple. Unfortunately the conclusion of their story did not reach the same level of enjoyment for me and I feel that, for my reading tastes, Bad Romeo with the addition of an epilogue would have worked better as a standalone.

The story is once again told in the first person narrative from the sole perspective of the heroine and toggles back and forth between the past and preBad Romeo was a 5 star read for me. I loved the dynamic of Ethan and Cassie and was happy to read a second book about this couple. Unfortunately the conclusion of their story did not reach the same level of enjoyment for me and I feel that, for my reading tastes, Bad Romeo with the addition of an epilogue would have worked better as a standalone.

The story is once again told in the first person narrative from the sole perspective of the heroine and toggles back and forth between the past and present throughout the entire story. Brutally speaking, I found the past to be overly repetitive in sentiment and I dearly wanted to experience development in the present day. I found that dwelling so much on the past and the over-telling of certain elements took me away from the story aspect that was of interest to me and made the sentiment of the story feel somewhat labored and juvenile.

BAD ROMEO is a book I remember fondly and I've recently read and really enjoyed WICKED HEART so the fact that BROKEN JULIET did not work so well for me is perhaps just a blip on my horizon. Leisa Rayven is an author I'd recommend to all romance lovers because I absolutely LOVED the other two books in this series! ...more

This is the second installment of the series in which I had mixed feeling.. I wasn’t sure second chances could be given considering the amount of heartache that one has to endure, but I was wrong. As cliche as this might sound, love can forgive all, and conquer all.

Bad Romeo ended in cliffhanger, and we got a glimpse of a broken Cassie, left after finally fulfilling her wish of becoming Ethan's lover.As I said before, I consider Ethan one of the most complex and complicated hero that I've read aThis is the second installment of the series in which I had mixed feeling.. I wasn’t sure second chances could be given considering the amount of heartache that one has to endure, but I was wrong. As cliche as this might sound, love can forgive all, and conquer all.

Bad Romeo ended in cliffhanger, and we got a glimpse of a broken Cassie, left after finally fulfilling her wish of becoming Ethan's lover.As I said before, I consider Ethan one of the most complex and complicated hero that I've read about, but it was a pleasure discovering him and find out what made him click. He owed us this, trying to understand exactly had happened with him and why is he so tormented, leaving only pain behind him.Broken Juliet brought us, as the title mentioned, a broken heroine and a redeemed hero who will do the impossible to get her back. I was not prepare to see Cassie this way, her talent was not gone, but her spark was. She was to me like a soulless person, living but without any hope of loving again. She lived, but didn't feel. That thing was taken away from her when Ethan left her without any word. She looked for consolation in her work and in casual flings, but nothing compared to the love she had for him. Living in denial was not a good thing for her, kind of made the pain deeper and stronger.

Now, destiny brings them together after all this time, making them work together in a Broadway play. I was confused.. I wanted Cassie to never let Ethan into her life anymore, to just erase him from her thoughts and just forget him.. I understood her completely, because another experience that ended up in heartbreak will end up tragic for her. She was hanging by a thread, without knowing if to take the leap or nop. But, I am such a hopeless romantic and I wanted desperately for them to reconnect and take the second chance that had their name written all over it.

I enjoyed the Then and Now sequences, how the action mingled the past with the present, making the reader have a more detailed opinion about the story.You know what saved Ethan in my eyes?? His determination and honesty. I truly believed he was sorry and the was he was so persistent and did anything in his power to bring Cassie back was admirable. By the end of the book I just wanted her to let her guard down and star over with Ethan.

Leisa delivered some pretty believable characters, with genuine feeling and raw emotion. It is a drama, in all of this word's power, because you could connect with the characters and understand why they did certain things. It went full circle for me, and I managed to find exactly what I was looking for..

I'm really happy this couple got the closure is deserved, because after all this pain, my heart would of break not seeing all the pieces being put together so well.

"Do you think it's possible that soul mates who love each other aren't actually supposed to be together ?"He pauses and then puts the book down."I think a better question would be:do you think its possible ?

Well,just as most of you would have guessed Book 2 picks off right where Book one ends.

In Bad Romeo...its just the beginning.We meet the characters,they recite their stories and we as readers get involved in the plot line while trying to unravel their pas3.5 You-make-me-feel-Vulnerable stars

"Do you think it's possible that soul mates who love each other aren't actually supposed to be together ?"He pauses and then puts the book down."I think a better question would be:do you think its possible ?

Well,just as most of you would have guessed Book 2 picks off right where Book one ends.

In Bad Romeo...its just the beginning.We meet the characters,they recite their stories and we as readers get involved in the plot line while trying to unravel their past before the end.

What turned their love into pain ? What broke their hearts and made them vain ?

We get a glimpse at that book one...The FIRST time he broke her heart.And in book 2.We read about the SECOND time.

My Thoughts:

Bad Romeo was beautiful...intense writing,intense characters..I ended up rating it a five star.Broken Juliet was the same...but more of a conclusion to book one,than an actual story..An Act II to an Act I one would call it,in a more theatrical language.

You get to see a more broke side of Cassandra in this one compared to the strong willed and innocent character she potreys in Book One.Their love turned them into opposites...Ethan trusts their love..but Cassie isn't so sure that love is enough.

Would I recommend it ? Yes for sure...to all Bad Romeo fans.This book is more like a closure to Book one.You would't want to miss it.

All in all,its a great story.Beautiful yet angsty....Touching yet heart-breaking.

I just can't. Same as book one so far, past Ethan is constantly pulling away from Cassie whilst she desperately pursues him. Present Cassie pulling away from Ethan who is telling her he loves her and wants her back.

Not for me, unfortunately.

ARC gratefully received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

“Despite all the things I would have changed about our journey, I’d never want a different destination. It’s always been you.”

OH.MY.GOD. Ethan Holt. I’m sooo -deeply, irrevocably, madly- in love with you! I loved “Bad Romeo” but this book is even better than the 1st one. It was perfect because Ethan was perfectly imperfect! :)

This series became one of my favorites now. You must read them asap! You’re missing too much. Trust me. How can you live your life without you meet Ethan Holt huh? Give h “Despite all the things I would have changed about our journey, I’d never want a different destination. It’s always been you.”

OH.MY.GOD. Ethan Holt. I’m sooo -deeply, irrevocably, madly- in love with you! I loved “Bad Romeo” but this book is even better than the 1st one. It was perfect because Ethan was perfectly imperfect! :)

This series became one of my favorites now. You must read them asap! You’re missing too much. Trust me. How can you live your life without you meet Ethan Holt huh? Give him a chance please. :D

Oh btw I have to share this… I really loved –present- Ethan so much but when I found out this info, ugh God I was moaning his name... :) If you wanna know what it is go ahead read the spoiler! :D

(view spoiler)[ He didn’t have sex for 3 years after he broke up with Cassie. Can you believe that? 3 FUCKING YEARS!!! It’s unbelievable BUT my God, THIS IS SO ROMANTIC and I’m gonna act like a fangirl now cause THIS IS ALSO SO SEXY AS HELL don’t you think huh?

He can’t stand to have sex with someone else cause he loved / missed her so much… How sweet is this guy? Ugh I have to stop now, I really should stop thinking over him but dammit I’m a hopeless romantic! And Ethan, you’re such a hopeless romantic too. And I love you!!!!! (hide spoiler)]

"You can love somthing without being passionate about it. Conversely, you can be passionate about things you don't love. It's when the two converge that real magic happens."

Loved it! Awesome second year as second book. Theses actings oh GOSHHHHH how can Erika do this??????????(view spoiler)[ Pick Ethan and Conner play love scene together 'Enemy Inside', and then Ethan kiss Conner GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I was hyperventilating and applause out loud BRAVO!! after the the scene done. LOL!

BUT BUT BUT!!!"You can love somthing without being passionate about it. Conversely, you can be passionate about things you don't love. It's when the two converge that real magic happens."

Loved it! Awesome second year as second book. Theses actings oh GOSHHHHH how can Erika do this??????????(view spoiler)[ Pick Ethan and Conner play love scene together 'Enemy Inside', and then Ethan kiss Conner GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I was hyperventilating and applause out loud BRAVO!! after the the scene done. LOL!

BUT BUT BUT!!! That scene with the play 'Portray' I think. That nude scene between Cassie and Conner!! How can Erika do this??? Why don't cast Ethan?!?!???? GAHHHHHHHHHH Cruel! Cruel! Cruel! My poor Ethan have to watch them do the horny acting, I died. This is evil. But I love this teacher, nonetheless. (hide spoiler)]

I enjoy this one so much. I'm so sad to say good-bye to Ethan and Cassie. I hope you will play Hamlet one day, Ethan because that's like my favorite Shakesperian character EVER, and you would be perfect Hamlet, crude vengeful, but hansome hot bad boy. And Cassie, love that you love Ethan this defective boy, and your love made him be a better man. I hope vice versa for you, too. Just love this second book, you made me cry and smile like a idiot. <3...more

I really don't know why but from the beginning i wasn't thrill with this story...But i have to admit that the second book was much better from the first...

As the pages were passing i start to feel more relaxed, until the moment that Cassie started to irritate me for once again... I'm sorry, but i can't find a connection with this woman... I know that Ethan hurt her not once but twice and that left her broken but still i'm not fan of her...

Ethan from the other hand??? I loved that guy!!! Yeah heI really don't know why but from the beginning i wasn't thrill with this story...But i have to admit that the second book was much better from the first...

As the pages were passing i start to feel more relaxed, until the moment that Cassie started to irritate me for once again... I'm sorry, but i can't find a connection with this woman... I know that Ethan hurt her not once but twice and that left her broken but still i'm not fan of her...

Ethan from the other hand??? I loved that guy!!! Yeah he is the asshole, the one that hurt Cassie all the time, the one that was self-destructive and ruined everything but in this book i'm really satisfied because i understand the reasons behind his actions... Yes, in some points he was overreacting but i can not blame him... He was having serious issues with trusting and self-appreciation... He really loved Cassie from the very first moment and that's for me is a plus...

Cassie in the most part of this book was in denial... Past and present... Denial that she had named as a self-protection, but the result was the same... She was so afraid that Ethan will break her heart for once again that she was pretenting that she wasn't feeling anything for him... That was so wrong!!! Why's that???

Well, Ethan really had changed over these last three years... He was so open and he was trying so hard to prove her that change... He even gave her his diaries from back then. That was a huge step!!! He was patient and he was willing to take everything that she was ready to give him... I really pity the guy in some point...

Yeah, Cassie after Ethan developed her own issues that was clear fear for everything and especially, Ethan... She wanted him but she couldn't trust him so easily. She had to work hard for that and i totally understand it!!! She irritated me mostly in the past... (Did i mention that finally i found my three lost years in college??? Yeah, thank God!!!)

Well, the first time that Ethan left her was awful for her and if he was in front of me, i would give him crap for leaving her not because he didn't love her, but because he was afraid... The second time, he really tried so hard to work it up and he succeeded in some level... But then something crappy made him feel uneasy and his trusting issues came for once again in the surface... but he fought them. But in that point, Cassie changed too... Even though he broke her heart again, i think that she was having a part in the blame at the end... And i totally understand why he left her. Because he did it for her... I know that you can not understand what i'm saying but if you read it you will understand me perfectly...

Soooo... Yeah, i know that Ethan is the bad guy here, the "BAD ROMEO" who left his Juliet broken, but after this book i'm saying to you that this Romeo was fuckin' awesome... As for his Juliet??? I'm working my issues with her, but in the end they made me happy... The last scene (You know which i mean) was unbelievable!!!So in this one, i will be more nice than the previous book and i will give it 4 stars!!!

“Despite all the things I would have changed about our journey, I’d never want a different destination. It’s always been you.”

OMG, what an epic romance!!!!

The follow on from the incredible Bad Romeo, this book was my most anticipated release for this year. I have been desperate for it ever since Bad Romeo left me hanging with that nasty cliffhanger, and dying for more. But I have also been really nervous about it. It’s not often that the follow up to a book that blew you away meets up to your ex“Despite all the things I would have changed about our journey, I’d never want a different destination. It’s always been you.”

OMG, what an epic romance!!!!

The follow on from the incredible Bad Romeo, this book was my most anticipated release for this year. I have been desperate for it ever since Bad Romeo left me hanging with that nasty cliffhanger, and dying for more. But I have also been really nervous about it. It’s not often that the follow up to a book that blew you away meets up to your expectations, but Leisa Rayven has nailed it with this one, so you'll have to excuse my excessive gushing!

This book is not so much a sequel, as it is a direct continuation of Ethan and Cassie’s story. One where we finally get the full history of their tumultuous love affair, and watch them deal with the repercussions of their reunion three years after Ethan broke Cassie’s heart and left her shattered (for the second time). And I can honestly say that this book gave me everything that I wanted – the details of their time together in the past (the good and the bad), and every moment of their reconnection in the present. It’s truly beautiful and really funny in places, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. In fact it’s a really hard journey for them, full of angst and heartache but OMG, it’s all completely worth it!

I’m not going to go into too much detail about their story, because if you’ve read Bad Romeo you’ll know it, and if you haven’t, check out the details in my review, and then then go and read the book… NOW!

Towards the end of the last book, Ethan really opened up and we started to see a very different man from the moody, closed off one that he had been for most of the book. And I am very happy to say that that continues in this one. Ethan is one very determined man-in-love. Fully accepting of all of the pain he has put Cassie through, and desperate to make up for his mistakes of the past as he fights hard to win her back.

“Boyfriend sounds so fucking lame. I’m nearly twenty-seven years old. I’m not a boy anymore. I want to be your man. Your lover. Your…damn it, I don’t know. Your Ethan. Whatever the fuck you want to call me, that’s what I want to be. My end game is to simply know that I’m yours and you’re mine.”

I love their reversal in roles from the first book. Ethan is now the one throwing himself at Cassie, opening his heart and begging for a chance, but this time it’s Cassie pushing him away, wanting him but desperate to protect herself from being hurt. But it’s not done in an annoying way. Leisa does a wonderful job with Cassie. She’s such an amazing character – smart, sassy and strong yet still vulnerable and completely relatable. Seeing what she goes through in the past with Ethan, I could absolutely sympathise with her, and I could feel her confusion as her heart and mind battled.

He was my first true friend. My first love. First lover. The master of more pleasure than I knew existed, and the architect of more heartache than I thought I could endure …I want him. Can’t want him. Need him. Hate needing him.

I know some readers had issues with Ethan in the last book, and I have to admit that I felt it for the first time in this one. I started to get angry with him and his ‘I’m no good for you’ whininess back when he was a moody, emo 21 year old, but his pain is just so real! The book is told from Cassie’s POV (with some small insights into Ethan’s perspective), but we still get to see so much of him. Each encounter, each meaningful glance, gentle touch or narrowing of the eyes conveys so much, and when he lets it all out, it’s actually painful to read!

“You think I don’t love you? … If I didn’t, do you think I’d be in hell right now? You think I like feeling like this? Like pushing you away isn’t ripping out parts of me? Fuck, Cassie, I know the right thing to do is to leave you alone. But when I think about doing that, it…” He grips his chest. “It fucking hurts. And I’m so sick of hurting. I thought you could make it better, but you only made it worse … You want me to say it? Yes, I love you. But you have no idea how many times I’ve wished I didn’t.”…“Tell me how to stop loving you, Cassie. Please. I have no fucking clue.”

*sob*

But again, their past is intermingled really well with their present, where Ethan is a completely different man, madly and openly in love with his girl, and fighting hard to get her back. It’s balanced really well so that the angst never becomes too much because you know where it’s all leading.

That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt though! OMG, these two go through so much! Their early relationship is hard work, and somewhat toxic, but their chemistry is electric. They can’t keep away from each other, and that’s what makes it all so intense! And through it all the love between them is always there, and their passion for each other is absolutely incredible and leaps off the page.

“If our relationship was only based only on sex, do you think we’d have gone through all the shit we have? Sex is easy. It’s an itch that needs to be scratched, and as much as I love having sex with you, what I want from you isn’t easy. It’s messy and complicated, and it’s filled with so much fucking passion, I don’t have a clue how to cope with it all. But I find a way, because I love you. And love is hard, but it’s worth it. You’re worth it.”

There is also the continuation of the playfulness of them together. Even with all that they go through, they still have a good time together, and I laughed so many times at their interactions.

“Yes, I enjoyed it. A lot. You were, without a doubt, the best I’ve ever had. But thinking about it right now isn’t going to end well for me. So please, for the love of inconvenient boners everywhere, let it go.”

“I did tell you to go fuck yourself”“Yeah, but you didn’t mean it.”“Yeah, I did.”He frown. “Really? Wow. I totally misread that moment.”

This one is a lot smuttier than Bad Romeo. While the first book is all about the build-up, and UST, this one is the culmination of all of that, there is sweet sex, angry sex, hot, up-against-the-wall sex, and steamy and ultra-intense love making. And it is all so freaking HOT!!!! Sex is such a huge part of their relationship and expresses the connection between them, so it ties into the story really well, adding to that sense that they belong together. They can feel it and I, as a reader, could feel it. They truly are soul-mates who share an incredible bond, and no matter what they go through, nothing is going to change that.

This book gave me everything that I wanted for Ethan and Cassie. There is no epilogue, but I honestly don’t feel like the story needs one. It ends beautifully, and I thought it was perfect for them. Liesa Rayven is continuing on in this series with Ethan’s sister, Elissa, and I’m sure we’ll see more of Ethan and Cassie in that one. Plus I’m excited to see more of Elissa, we don’t know a whole lot about her personally, but she’s a wonderful character!

And a quick shout out to Cassie’s roommate Ruby who is rude, feisty and hilarious, and their classmate Jack with his crude sarcasm that made me laugh so many times! He adds so much lightness to the story, every time he appeared was absolute gold

“Hey, guys,” I say as we stop in front of them. “Have a good summer?”“I had an awesome summer,” Jack says with his trademark smirk. “I got together with the ex-girlfriend I dumped more than a year ago because I’m a miserable fuck who never stopped pining for her. Oh, wait, that was you, Holt, wasn’t it?”

I am so in love with Leisa Rayven’s writing! I laughed, I cried, and I felt everything that Ethan and Cassie were feeling right along with them! This is such an amazing love story, and even though it hurt at times, I finished the book deliriously happy with a huge smile on my face

I loved it – 5 huge stars.

An Advanced Reader Copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more

Broken Juliet is the second and final book in the Starcrossed series. This series isn't for everyone. The relationship between Ethan and Cassie is toxic, passionate, happy, sad, broken, and beautiful. The journey is full of regrets, mistakes, and miscommunications. Their story held me captive until the very last page.

Broken Juliet is the second and final book in the Starcrossed series. This series isn't for everyone. The relationship between Ethan and Cassie is toxic, passionate, happy, sad, broken, and beautiful. The journey is full of regrets, mistakes, and miscommunications. Their story held me captive until the very last page.

At the conclusion of Bad Romeo, Cassie was trying to decide if she should give Ethan a second chance. Broken Juliet picks up at that exact moment. The story shifts between the past Cassie and Ethan who are then in college and the present Ethan and Cassie who are starring in a Broadway show together. It is painfully obvious that they love each other. The only question is: Is love enough?

“Hey,” he says, and brushes hair away from my face. “Cassie … it’s okay…” “You hurt me. Broke me.” “I wish I could take it back, but I can’t.”

Cassie and Ethan have a very tortured past to overcome. In the past, they have ravaged each other emotionally on a truly primal level. Every time Cassie lets Ethan in, he hurts her. They have a passion like no other and yet Ethan cannot accept her love.

"He’s never kissed me like this before. Never. It’s like he’s speaking directly to my body. Asking permission, and apologizing, and wishing for things that can never be."-Cassie

Not only does Cassie continuously let him in, she accepts him. She loves him. She doesn't understand why he is the way he is.

“I don’t understand. So, you want me, but don’t love me?”-Cassie

Although many may say Cassie is weak and enabling Ethan's dysfunctional behavior, I recognize her love for him as it is. She doesn't care that he is breaking her. She loves him. She will do anything to contain him and understand him.

After Ethan has broken Cassie for the last time, they break apart. Cassie becomes hard. Ethan realizes what he has done. He seeks help and then he is determined to get his girl back!

“I’m sorry I hurt you, Cassie. I’m so sorry. I’m not going to hurt you anymore, I promise.”-Ethan

"We’ll be all right. I’m too tired to fight anymore. Too lonely. Too much in love with him. When the wetness on my cheeks begins to dry, I hug him back and let myself believe him, just a bit. Just enough."-Cassie

The push and pull between these two is intense. It was quite an emotional roller coaster. There were moments where I couldn't stop smiling and yet a moment later I would have tears streaming down my face. The past Ethan is a mirror image of the present Cassie. Despite every effort to stay away from each other they are continuously drawn back in.

“Once we get our arms around each other, we won’t want to let go. It will be an avalanche of ‘kiss me,’ ‘touch me,’ ‘put your hand down my pants.’ ‘Take off your clothes, so I can be inside you.’”-Ethan

One of the best elements of this series for me is the fact that they are actors. I don't think that everyone can possibly understand the effect acting has on a person. It requires you to tap into your emotions on a second notice. In order to keep your emotional responses fully stocked, you need to keep yourself open and available to tap in to the emotional bank at any time. Because of there profession, Cassie and Ethan are even more susceptible to struggling through their relationship.

"Some people believe that actors are just professional liars, paid to manufacture personalities that aren’t our own. We create characters from our imaginations, interpret someone else’s words, dress in someone else’s clothes, become a different person for hours, days, months. We’re good at fooling people. We’re less adept at fooling ourselves."-Cassie

The past Cassie and Ethan have demolished their relationship. The present Ethan and Cassie are working to pick up the pieces and rebuild something more beautiful.

"We tried to suppress our passion, but in the end, she ended up making us her bitch. She waited until we were vulnerable. Stalked us on ninja feet. Pried us open with longing and loneliness. Stripped away our anger and common sense and doused us in lust. Then she lit a match and danced as we burned."

I wish I could say this was an easy, happy-go lucky read. I can't! Ms. Rayven is a genius as she invites you into this world of chaos. The text is fluid and natural. This is not just a love story. It is a story of healing. It is a story of making yourself better. It is a story of never giving up on the people you love. Because LOVE is enough!

“Let’s say people are books. Everyone who comes into our lives is given a glimpse of a few of our pages. If they like us, we show them more pages. If we like them, we want them to see the unedited parts. Some people may make notes in the margins. Leave their marks upon us and our story. But ultimately, the words that are printed— that represent us as a person— don’t change without our permission.”

It is up to us who we let love us, break us, leave us, and come back to us. As for this story, I LOVED It! I am glad that I read it. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who loves a second chance romance!

Overall, Broken Juliet was a beautiful ending for our main characters. I don't regret one second spent with these characters and their story. Happy reading!...more

3. Their love feels real, all the feelings pass to the reader like real.

4. The writing is good. Chapters of past and present follow one another in a complementary way. While the past gives us insight about how EthanHere is what I think and feel about BAD ROMEO & BROKEN JULIET, the 2 books in Star-crossed series...

3. Their love feels real, all the feelings pass to the reader like real.

4. The writing is good. Chapters of past and present follow one another in a complementary way. While the past gives us insight about how Ethan broke Cassie, the present gives us the gradual healing process towards a (not a second) but a third chance which may hopefully end up in their HEA. Also, the journals contributed a lot to the storytelling...

5. I liked how roles are swapped between past and present. In the past, Cassie was the strong and pushy one whereas Ethan had trusting and self-appreciation issues to deal with, resulting in him leaving Cassie twice and breaking her heart twice. In the present, Cassie has issues of trust and abandonment whereas Ethan has had therapy, become stronger and he is the one who tries to repair their broken relationship, the one he broke twice.

What I didn’t like about this series:

1. Initially, I thought that Ethan had to endure serious trauma in his past and that is why he was broken like that. But when his past tragedy is revealed, when I learnt his reasons, it really didn’t make that much sense to me. I didn’t understand why he was so troubled because of them. Seriously, this is life and shit happens. (view spoiler)[So what if you are adopted? So what if your girlfriend cheated on you? (hide spoiler)]So many people experience far worse tragedies than that. I mean, of course these things may have a bitter effect on you but they shouldn’t make that much of a self-sabotaging effect. I think, the writer could have found more serious drama to make his actions more understandable and acceptable.

The weird thing is, Ethan, despite all his flaws, has earned a special place in my heart. He is now my favorite troubled hero :)

2. Secondly, I think this is a painful but still an amazing love story. However, there is not much of a plot twist or something new happening. It is all about the pull and push between the characters, how Ethan sabotages their relationship twice and how he tries to repair it after he has healed himself. So, why 2 books for that? I mean, yes, the story is good but after a while it is dragging; you feel as if there is no end to their torture... In my opinion, it would have been better as a 400-page stand-alone book rather than 2 books in a series.

3. And finally, this book definitely lacks an epilogue.

Do I recommend this series? Well, definitely yes if you like tragedy dominating love stories with strong passion and angst.

Now, here are some special scenes I loved: (view spoiler)[1. Ethan’s 1162 I LOVE YOU’s were the best of all for me...

“LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU...

I scroll down pages and pages, stunned, until finally, I reach the bottom. Just in case you didn’t get what I was doing, I’ve written “I LOVE YOU” 1,162 times—one for every day I was away. And please don’t think this was some quickie copy and paste declaration. I typed each and every one individually as penance for being too much of a dumb ass to make it crystal clear how I felt about you.”

2. Also, the scene where Ethan tells he didn’t have sleep with any other woman after he left her in all those 3 years...that was a very heart-wrenching scene...And the way he explains it... just amazing...

“Look, it’s simple. I didn’t have you, and I didn’t want anyone else. End of story.”

3. When Cassie told she slept with other men only once because she tried to find him in every man and then she saw they never felt like him... that was also heart-wrenching

“Would you have gone home with him if I hadn’t been there tonight?” he asks. “No.” “Why not?” “Because…” I struggle to find the words. “If I’d taken him home I’d…” I sigh, prickly and defensive. “I would have just pretended he was you, anyway, so what’s the freaking point?” There’s a long pause. My heart is pounding erratically as I wait for him to respond. “Have you done that before?”“Yes.” “How often?” “All the time. Every time.” He inhales. “What does that mean?” He’s pushing, but despite my discomfort, some part of me wants to be pushed. I’m not going to be able to do this without him. “Cassie?” “After you left…” I swallow. “I missed you so much, I wanted them to be you, so I closed my eyes and tried to make them you. All of them. Even Connor. Especially Connor. It didn’t work. None of them even came close.” (hide spoiler)]

Here are some emotional, inspirational and humorous quotes from the book (but be careful, they may contain spoilers):

“Let’s say people are books. Everyone who comes into our lives is given a glimpse of a few of our pages. If they like us, we show them more pages. If we like them, we want them to see the unedited parts. Some people may make notes in the margins. Leave their marks upon us and our story. But ultimately, the words that are printed—that represent us as a person—don’t change without our permission.”

***

“He’s looking at me, torn and passionate, and I don’t know how I thought I was truly alive before I met him. This is what love feels like. To no longer belong to yourself. To be pulled from what you know into what you feel. No wonder people live and die for this feeling.”

***

He looks at me before dropping his gaze to the floor. “I thought we agreed to take things slowly.”“We did, and we are,” I say and take his hand. “Holt, the only thing going slower than the two of us right now is a glacier in New Zealand, and quite frankly, it’s gaining.”

***

“Sometimes people put up walls, not only to keep people out, but also to see who cares enough to tear them down. Understand?”

***

"The thing is, if people were books, Ethan would be a bestseller. A sexy, intelligent, page-turner you’d find hard to put down, even after it reduced you to a sobbing mess."

***

“I did tell you to go fuck yourself”“Yeah, but you didn’t mean it.”“Yeah, I did.”He frown. “Really? Wow. I totally misread that moment.”

***

“I’m not bewitching anyone, Jack. Connor sees me as a friend. That’s all.” He lets out a short laugh. “Okay. Sure, he does. And I watch porn for the plotlines.”

***

“Cassie … We’ve never been over. You know it as well as I do. Even when I was halfway around the world and you hated my guts, we weren’t over. You can feel it between us now. And the closer we are, the stronger it gets.”

***

"I believe Ethan wants to repair me. Ironic, considering he was the one who broke me in the first place...

We just stand there for a while. Breathing each other in. Being. Still not fixed, but far less broken."

I'm so happy at this moment! I'm terribly and irrevocably romantic at heart and this story touched every little sappy chord i carry. I know many found it slow but i just savored all the built up to such high extend, i ended up delirious.

This story has a certain quality in it that frankly i can't really put my finger on. It enthralls me still even if this installment was somewhat more timid than the first one. Maybe it's the writing, maybe it's the plot or the characters, i don't know for sure.I'm so happy at this moment! I'm terribly and irrevocably romantic at heart and this story touched every little sappy chord i carry. I know many found it slow but i just savored all the built up to such high extend, i ended up delirious.

This story has a certain quality in it that frankly i can't really put my finger on. It enthralls me still even if this installment was somewhat more timid than the first one. Maybe it's the writing, maybe it's the plot or the characters, i don't know for sure.

Always boisterous and passionate Broken Juliet had a more explanatory character than Bad Romeo. Yes the present story progressed to a great extend but it was finally the time to find out more about Ethan and Cassie's shared past.

All the secrets and the bad blood between them now make good sense. The raging, lustful, passionate tension also has more stability and a wholesome substance.

Really everything falls into the right place and as a reader i deeply appreciate it, when a story i love has a good and fulfilling ending. And Broken Juliet falls under this particular category. No more lose ends to tie and the most romantic and emotional proposal ever as a huge bonus!!

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK

- I feel so connected to this couple.- I felt the desperation when it was appropriate. So powerful.- Actually i found the sentimental pallet very colorful. - Avery, always the entertaining ass.. - His journals.. AWW!- I loved the book anlogy by Dr. Kate.- I liked seeing Erika again.- I can't wait for Elissa's story.- Again the proposal..AWWWWW!

A heart wrenching, addictive, tumultuous finale that packs all the feels.

Leisa Rayven delivers a gut-wrenching finale to this angst-ridden tale of two star-crossed lovers. I had anxiously awaited this book, feeling the vigorous, impassioned push and pull between our two protagonists, Cassie and Ethan. I was addicted. Obsessed. I needed to see how the curtain would fall on their story. Whereas Bad Romeo was all about the angst between them, Broken Juliet was all about the emotions that raged insiA heart wrenching, addictive, tumultuous finale that packs all the feels.

Leisa Rayven delivers a gut-wrenching finale to this angst-ridden tale of two star-crossed lovers. I had anxiously awaited this book, feeling the vigorous, impassioned push and pull between our two protagonists, Cassie and Ethan. I was addicted. Obsessed. I needed to see how the curtain would fall on their story. Whereas Bad Romeo was all about the angst between them, Broken Juliet was all about the emotions that raged inside them. The pain, the regret, the unfailing desire and love between them. We first saw a tortured Ethan—a hero who just couldn’t let go enough to accept the love Cassie offered. A boy who kept making mistake after mistake, who finally, broke his Juliet. So the story flips in this second installment and the focus shifts to seeing Cassie work through her own issues and figure out if she dare take Ethan back in her life. Would love be enough? Had Ethan really changed? Could she really open her heart up again only to risk its destruction again?

“This man represents so many things to me. He was my first true friend. My first love. First lover. The master of more pleasure than I knew existed, and the architect of more heartache than I thought I could endure.”

The story unwinds with a similar approach as book 1, with glimpses into the past to help us see just how Ethan broke Cassie’s heart their senior year. What actually happened to cause Cassie to hate Ethan so much? Ethan’s evolution is staggering. He’s a different man. He’s repentant, but determined. He’s vulnerable and open and communicative and every last thing he never was while they were together. Seeing the stark differences between past and present Ethan really demonstrated just how much he loves Cassie… how much work he put in to change… to be a man she deserved and could love.

“In the past, I thought I could be what you needed. But thinking and knowing are two different things. Now, I know. Let me prove I can love you the way you deserve.”

With every push, Cassie’s wall starts to crumble, dredging up all the feelings she’s tried so hard to bury. The desire… the physicality… the want… it’s all there. That’s no surprise, but the real question is whether the love they felt was sufficient to weather the unavoidable storms. Were his promises of never again and this time it’s forever, real?

Leisa Rayven does an impressive job of weaving a deeply evocative story with heartfelt ups and gut-wrenching downs. There’s just been something utterly addictive about this story, about these two people, that has me obsessed. I love the angst, the pain, the indecision, and the insistent, assidious love between Cassie and Ethan. Their relationship is volatile, brimming with equal parts love and antagonism, and as a reader, I just wanted their happy ever after all the more because of this dynamic. It’s a fantastic, must-read duology.

“We have this perfect rhythm, whenever we’re together, and that’s the essence of us.”

I didn’t think I could love this one as much as I loved Bad Romeo, but Leisa Rayven proved me wrong.

The story picks up where Bad Romeo left off, and switches from past to present, where we get to see more of the past rocky relationship of Cassie and Ethan, and how they are now trying to fix what once was.

In the present, we see Ethan doing all he can to show Cassie he isn’t the insecure, reckless, heartbreaking jerk version of his past self, and in an interesting turn of events, we see Cassie tak

I didn’t think I could love this one as much as I loved Bad Romeo, but Leisa Rayven proved me wrong.

The story picks up where Bad Romeo left off, and switches from past to present, where we get to see more of the past rocky relationship of Cassie and Ethan, and how they are now trying to fix what once was.

In the present, we see Ethan doing all he can to show Cassie he isn’t the insecure, reckless, heartbreaking jerk version of his past self, and in an interesting turn of events, we see Cassie take on the role of the closed off, scared, insecure person she never was.

It was so heartbreaking to see what they have both went through (Ethan’s journal entries? GOD I just wanted to cry). And the paranoia and fear Cassie goes through in the present is enough to make you want to leap into the pages and just tell her it will be okay. And I loved her even more this time around.

But I must say, this version of Ethan was HOT. I mean, he was always swoon-worthy (even when he was being a little prick) but the new and improved adult version of Ethan was just all MAN. And I loved every bit of it. To see his soft and romantic side had me awww-ing and swooning all over the damn place.

Once again the story was SEXY, smart, witty, heartbreaking, amazing all around, and a fantastic conclusion to this story. Leisa’s writing is FEEAKING PHENOMENAL, and this has secured her as a new favorite author of mine. It takes true talent to be able to make someone laugh out loud, cry, gush, and feel giddy and heartbreak all in the course of one book. I will continue to read whatever this woman writes.

But I’m sure what everyone wants to know is do they finally make it work after all this time? Is there a happily ever after for these two star crossed lovers? Well I’m not telling you!! Go and read both books to find out! Broken Juliet is out now! ...more

5 Star-crossed Loving Stars Arc received in exchange for an honest review

Finally, the encore…

The saga of Cassie and Ethan’s star-cross romance continues and WOW, I could not wait to jump into this sequel. At the end of “Bad Romeo”, I was left with so many unanswered questions… and my nerves were wracked with worry.

What was the real reason Ethan crushed Cassie? What would become of this broken couple? Will Cassie’s desire for Ethan overcome her fears? Is Ethan strong enough to convince Cassie5 Star-crossed Loving Stars Arc received in exchange for an honest review

Finally, the encore…

The saga of Cassie and Ethan’s star-cross romance continues and WOW, I could not wait to jump into this sequel. At the end of “Bad Romeo”, I was left with so many unanswered questions… and my nerves were wracked with worry.

What was the real reason Ethan crushed Cassie? What would become of this broken couple? Will Cassie’s desire for Ethan overcome her fears? Is Ethan strong enough to convince Cassie that this time he is truly committed? How will Ethan repair the heart he once shattered? So on and so on…

GAH!! Leisa Rayven left me completely crushed and panicked – I was heartbroken over Ethan’s callous ways and yearned for him to mend Cassie’s (and my) heart. And now the stage is set, the curtains are drawn and in Act II Ethan and Cassie’s performance had my emotions whirling. I savored every moment, “Broken Juliet” was an absolute HIT!!

“Broken Juliet” picks up right where “Bad Romeo” left me dangling – with present day Ethan desperately fighting to win back Cassie’s heart and trust and to earn forgiveness. As more of their heartbreaking past is brought to light, there’s insight into Ethan’s anxieties, the unimaginable sucky reasons why he destroyed their relationship and the toll their breakup took on the young Cassie. Gone is the witty, optimistic girl, leaving behind a fearful woman. My heart went out to her, seeing the life she leads is a direct result of Ethan’s past actions. Contrarily, Ethan’s outlook on life is forever altered as he discovers the importance of Cassie’s love – it is the missing piece of his soul. I loved the heavy element of irony Rayven laced into the storyline as well as the way she seamlessly floats between past and present, and how she allowed her characters to magically morph into each other’s roles. Their love and struggles made for an undeniably beautiful romance.

Although I was less than pleased with the younger Ethan who consistently frustrated the crap out of me to the point I wanted to pummel him… SEVERELY, present day Ethan was one of those charming leading men that stole the show and won my heart. I championed his fortitude and believed his intentions were genuine. It wasn’t easy making my peace with his character when I both loved and hated him with a passion. Despised his coldhearted ways of the past, undeserving of Cassie’s affections. Had me swooning seeing his pain, his change of heart and the beauty of his soul. I honestly relish a story of redemption and Ethan, I feel, has atoned for his past sins. I applaud his character’s growth. Oh, and the fact that he was incredibly sexy and passionate as all hell, helped to change my opinion. Once seeing Ethan’s sincerity, I couldn’t help but adore him.

This is precious. This is love. This is something I’ll never take for granted, because I know how it feels to be without it.” ~Ethan

Cassie, rightfully so, played the part of ‘the woman scorned’ gracefully. I whole-heartedly understood her apprehensions and doubts, but wanted her to pull her head out of her ass a little sooner and make nice with Ethan. She held my sympathies in both the past and present – her pain moved me and I ached for her healing. Ethan was both her destroyer and salvation, and I held my breath seeing her sufferings unfold. If any heroine is deserving of a brilliant happily-ever-after, it is undoubtedly Cassie.

I so loved…LOVED this second chance romance. Leisa Rayven lured me into Ethan and Cassie’s world, only to leave me craving for more. I wanted more of their present lives and their future. I wanted more of their sizzling passion. (Ethan’s really HOT, just sayin’). It hurt to let these characters go. They had such powerful chemistry and their antics both tore me down and mended my heart. This was a great series and really looking forward to more angsty, drama filled reads from this author.

Other books in the series

“Everyone wears metaphorical masks during their lives. We all have different faces we show to work colleagues, or friends, or family. Sometimes we wear so many masks, we forget who we are underneath it all, but you have to find the courage to drop all the bullshit and revel your true self.”
—
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“Despite all the things I would have changed about our journey, I’d never want a different destination. It’s always been you.”
—
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